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In B.C., who chooses what your child reads in class?

The province does the curriculum, district develops guidelines, but teachers choose the resources
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The Sooke School District 62 had to deal with complaints after a teacher read a derogatory word from a book in class. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

After a teacher read a derogatory word from a book in class, a complaint was filed to Sooke School District 62 , and a commitment by the district to end systemic racism.

As the school year winds down, it’s also raised the question of who decides what books and resources are used in the classroom.

Largely, it depends on teachers, but the province shapes the curriculum and recommends resources in some instances and the district has guidelines on how teachers can select appropriate resources.

The district’s guidelines include things like ensuring core competencies are met, that literacy and numeracy skills are developed, and that First Peoples Principles of Learning are present. But they also include the importance of “personalizing learning,” allowing teachers to pick resources they feel would best suit their class’ needs. The district does not approve resources.

The main challenge to a resource being used in class is an appeals process for parents, who can submit a complaint about a resource to the district (unless it’s a provincial recommended resource, then it goes to the ministry of education.) If a complaint gets rejected, parents can also request their child not have access to a resource.

The district is waiting for the release of the province’s new K-12 Anti-Racism Action Plan. Roundtables were held in July 2020 and 2021 to review the province’s draft. For the upcoming school year, the province said professional opportunities, an inventory of resources and recommended practices for anti-racism would be available for teachers. There are also plans for an Indigenous-focused graduation requirement for all students starting in the 2023/24 school year.

“Education is a powerful tool to achieve racial equity and equality – by learning to identify language and acts of racism and oppression, and understanding diverse cultural histories and experiences, we can better respond to discrimination in our communities and celebrate the contributions of all British Columbians,” Education Minister Jennifer Whiteside said in a statement.

ALSO READ: West Shore moms press for anti-racism bias training in schools

Complaints over school resources were filed after a teacher used a derogatory word while reading verbatim from the novel Underground to Canada back in February – a “widely used resource in schools,” according to the district. That prompted calls from parents for anti-racism training and a commitment from SD62 board chair Ravi Parmar to combat systemic racism in school.

“Systemic racism is in our schools, it is in all structures of our government and all structures of our society,” he said. “I am certainly committed, as is our board of education, to do everything in our power to dismantle systemic racism.”

ALSO READ: Complaint filed against Sooke School District teacher for reading ‘derogatory word’ aloud

ALSO READ: Sooke School District board chair commits to end systemic racism in schools


@moreton_bailey
bailey.moreton@goldstreamgazette.com

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